Short of an official ad hoc outting, what are people's top 3 or 4 reccommended sites to just go out and shoot in and around Toronto, say on a weekend, when you've been dying to find time to get out and just practice with your new camera/tripod, etc, etc.

Short of an official ad hoc outting, what are people's top 3 or 4 reccommended sites to just go out and shoot in and around Toronto, say on a weekend, when you've been dying to find time to get out and just practice with your new camera/tripod, etc, etc.

What an awesome topic especially since I'm new to the area. Thanks, groucho!

I've already checked out edwards garden, high park, rouge beach and scarborough bluffs I also walked around the harbourfront center, cn tower area and skywalk, union station, etc. And walked the P.A.T.H, which led me through the eaton center and Nathan philip square, etc.

Where/What is the Leslie Street Split? Please don't just say it is on Leslie

It's the artificial spit built off the portlands in the 1950s originally it was the place where they dumped the soil from the subway tunnelling. The original idea was to create a 2nd harbour to create more mooring space for lake freighters, which of course was never needed so it instead has essentially been let go to nature. It's still used as an active dumping site for construction debris and soil, for example when they dredged the Keating channel a few years ago they dumped the silt at the spit.

Because it's an active dump site it's only open to the public on weekends. It's interesting in particular because of the colonies of wild birds that have become established there. Herons, cormorants etc.

To get there you go as far south as you can on Leslie Street (the southern part that runs south from Queen St.)

you guys actually go alone by yourself? do you not get scared of pulling out expensive equipment, for it may get stolen?

Yes to the first question and no for the second.

If you focus on the idea of getting your stuff stolen, it'll probably get stolen. If you focus on the fact that you've got some great equipment with you to capture some amazing photographs, you probably won't have any problems. It's all about what you focus your attention on. (my experience)

you guys actually go alone by yourself? do you not get scared of pulling out expensive equipment, for it may get stolen?

Yes, Yes and not yet. This depends on location. I always recommend a buddy system. Toronto in general is still a pretty safe place to be but over the years I've seen it gotten worst. If you are in a public busy place and in morning you should be ok. Stay out of dark alleys, etc. Most important is common sense. If you don't feel right, leave. Don't flash expensive things hanging around your neck.

I've been in trouble a few times (Once on pearl street after a photoshoot at a club and the other by moss park), but nothing serious had happened, and I was able to get away with all my equipment.
Regardless of whether it's safe or not, I find it a bit boring to shoot alone. I do shoot alone from time to time but if there's a choice to bring along a partner, I definitely will.

I've been in trouble a few times (Once on pearl street after a photoshoot at a club and the other by moss park), but nothing serious had happened, and I was able to get away with all my equipment. Regardless of whether it's safe or not, I find it a bit boring to shoot alone. I do shoot alone from time to time but if there's a choice to bring along a partner, I definitely will.

funny enough -- I don't get bored shooting alone -- but then again, I am usually wearing an IPOD when I do! Does that mean a double wammy? I'll have both my camera and IPOD stolen... jeez!

I will second the opinion that if you are looking to get your gear stolen, then you will! If you are shooting alone in an area which is not so safe, letting everything hang out loose is not a good policy, Keep your camera close to you, and be safe, and you'll be fine!

I've only had a couple of scarry moments .. one was on the UofT night shoot last year, when I was nearly attacked by a freaky dude who thought I was taking his picture, trasmitting his 'waves' to the police, or maybe I was a spy? Anyhow -- it freaked me out, and I was able to fend the guy off with my tripod legs as possible weapon of mass destruction (kidding). If he had tryed to atack me, I would have used my tripod to wack him good... and ran.

Other scarry moment was in Regent Park - some druggy types nearby .. I packed up quickly and got the hell out of there. I had been doing long exposure night images on Shuter street.

Thats about it. Funny enough -- I felt really safe in Mexico City - where its supposed to be not as safe. Although the subway ride to downtown was a little scarry.. only because one of the people with me was telling me about horror theft stories on the subway sysyem in mexico city -- I finally told her to shut up, and it wasn't going to happen to me.